Business Administration, Management and Operations at Heritage University

Heritage University serves a predominantly low-income student population in Toppenish, and while complete graduate data isn't available for this business administration program, comparable associate programs in Washington suggest first-year earnings around $35,000—right at the state median. The concerning element here is the estimated debt load of $24,000, which runs significantly higher than both the state median ($15,928) and national median ($13,980) for similar programs. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 means graduates would be carrying nearly seven months of income in student loans.

Looking at other Washington community colleges with reported outcomes, there's considerable variation in how business associate programs perform. Columbia Basin College's graduates earn over $42,000 in their first year, while Tacoma Community College's earn just $20,000. This spread underscores how much individual program quality and local job markets matter—and without Heritage's actual graduate data, it's difficult to know where they fall in this range.

For families weighing this decision, the key question is whether the estimated $24,000 debt burden is justified by the career outcomes this specific program produces. Given Heritage's high Pell grant percentage and the fact that many students here likely have limited alternatives, that debt level deserves careful scrutiny. If similar earnings can be achieved at other Washington programs with half the debt, that's worth investigating before committing.